Poetry: Hidden

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen 2015. HIDDEN New York: Square Fish. ISBN 1250056845

PLOT SUMMARY

HIDDEN is the story of two teenage girls and the secrets they try to keep. Wren Abbott and Darra Monson are two girls that come from vastly backgrounds. Wren is the daughter of the school superintendent and Darra’s father is abusive and unemployed. The story begins as Wren is waiting in the car for her mother to make a purchase at a convenience store. A robbery takes place and the thief uses Wren’s van as the getaway car. The thief just happens to be Darra’s father who drives Wren unknowingly back to his garage. After Darra’s father ends up in jail, the two girls end up at the same summer camps years later. Darra and Wren slowly come to terms with their shocking and violent past and begin to heal together. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Helen Frost has created a story that many middle aged students will love to investigate. Many of the themes such as loss and friendship will be easily relatable to the middle school student.

HIDDEN is written in free verse, allowing the structure of the poems to become part of the story. The structure is written without compliance with traditional style. Younger readers may have to adapt their reading style to match the style used in this book. The dual perspective is used to tell the two main character’s different points of view. 

Hidden tells its story in about 150 pages making it a quick read but one that is full of emotion. As you read, the quickness almost plays into a sense of urgency as you wait to find out how the girl’s story ends. Helen Frost does not spend much of the writing on extra, or fluffy pieces of information. It feels like she understands that the reader will be desperate to see the conclusion. 

When you reach the end of HIDDEN and think the story has been told, the author throws in a “hidden” gem. She explains her interest in finding the hidden things in life and send the reader on a quest back through the story to find something that is hidden in plain sight. I think this is a great way to keep the reader interested in the story after they are finished. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

VOYA: “Many teen readers will identify with Wren and Darra and how events that happened to us when we were younger help shape the person we become.”

BOOKLIST: “Like Frost's Printz Honor Book, Keesha's House, this novel in verse stands out through its deliberate use of form to illuminate emotions and cleverly hide secrets in the text.”

KIDS INK: “Beginning with a horrific story of an accidental kidnapping, this poetic novel is impossible to put down. . . . A masterpiece!”

CONNECTIONS

* 2012 ALA Notable Book

* 2012 Bank Street Best Children’s Books, Starred

* 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Children’s Poetry Award Honor Book*

* This would be a great story to teach students that there are two sides to every story. Have students write their own story or collection of poetry from difference perspectives.

* Other books by Helen Frost:

Frost, Helen. KEESHA’S HOUSE ISBN 0312641273

Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW ISBN 0312603835